Install a Linux distro, in which these proprietary drivers are included.

The problem with first 2 solutions is that they both require Internet connection, which I don't have (wireless card doesn't work without drivers and I don't have access to wired Internet). The third option is problematic, because I'm not sure whether such a Linux distro exists (one, in which Realtek drivers are part of the ISO image).

How can I install RTL8723AE wireless LAN drivers on a Linux machine with no Internet connection?

An ideal solution would be a collection of package files (RPM, DEB or similar), which I can install offline.

Update 1 (22.07.2013 14:00):ndisgtk is not installed and attempts to install build-essentials etc. from files fail due to missing dependencies.

So now I think about downloading the ISO image and installing all packages from there.

How can I configure Xubuntu's packaging system to look for available packages in an ISO image?

So, do you have a dual-boot? If I've opted the way (1) I would have download the driver and required .deb-packages (build-essential linux-headers-generic linux-headers-'uname -r') manually on Windows (may be to a flash as Iserni suggested) and manually installed them on linux with dpkg -i. Besides, thanks for clear question formulation.
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BobJul 21 '13 at 23:44

@Bob Yes, I can boot both Windows and Xubuntu right now (from hard disk). I also can boot from a USB drive.
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Dmitri PisarenkoJul 22 '13 at 3:54

1 Answer
1

You can almost certainly get a "full ISO install" of your distribution with all required packages for install and compilation already supplied; possibly (and even better), a live distribution.

All that you need is a FAT-formatted USB key where you will download the Dropbox-supplied "officially unofficial" driver in source format from Windows 7. The key will be writeable from Windows 7, and readable from Linux (and of course you will have verified this is the case ;-) ).

So you fire up the live distro, compile everything on the USB key and verify that it is working. Then you can perform a permanent installation, and you will just need to copy the just compiled relevant modules from the USB key. If they don't take, you still have the option of repeating the compile-and-install procedure, this time on the physical machine.

UPDATE

However, you do not need an Internet connection to use the ndiswrapper option of Xubuntu. You just need to save the Windows driver files (again on a USB key) and then import them with ndisgtk.

Thanks for your suggestion. Is ndisgtk included in the default Xubuntu installation?
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Dmitri PisarenkoJul 21 '13 at 21:26

Judging by the torrent ISO size, I'd say it should be. But you cann check it out; you only risk a few hours' time to download the torrent. I haven't been able to find out a manifest of the ISO, nor a browseable online image.
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lserniJul 22 '13 at 8:05